Is your aquarium large enough to add a power head to agitate the surface for more oxygen.
What size tank?
What size and species of cichlids?
What is your water change routine?
And what Tom said.
Most cichlids come from very pristine, highly oxygenated water, where nitrates are minimal.
What size and species of cichlids?
What is your water change routine?
And what Tom said.
Most cichlids come from very pristine, highly oxygenated water, where nitrates are minimal.
A 46 could be OK for babies, but filtration and surface agitation are important, and if the fish are on top, my guess is there is probably not enough.
Baby cichlids like to eat constantly, and thereby create its of waste products (which end up as nitrate).
The only way to rid the tank of that, is by changing water regularly, and the smaller the tank, the more volume, and more frequent the water changes should be.
A 40% change twice per week would seem to me a good schedule, although I usually change 30% every other day (especially for young, growing cichlids). I know dedicated aquarists that change much more.
Baby cichlids like to eat constantly, and thereby create its of waste products (which end up as nitrate).
The only way to rid the tank of that, is by changing water regularly, and the smaller the tank, the more volume, and more frequent the water changes should be.
A 40% change twice per week would seem to me a good schedule, although I usually change 30% every other day (especially for young, growing cichlids). I know dedicated aquarists that change much more.
One other thought, the warmer the water, the less oxygen it holds.
And depending on the species, you may want to consider temp.
Rift lake African and Central American species do fine in mid to high 70s.
Southern South American species such as braziliensus do best in low 70s, even high 60s.
Discus or some northern S Americans, and some caribbean island species do best in the 80s.
Without more detailed info, its difficult to pinpoint where your problems arise.
And depending on the species, you may want to consider temp.
Rift lake African and Central American species do fine in mid to high 70s.
Southern South American species such as braziliensus do best in low 70s, even high 60s.
Discus or some northern S Americans, and some caribbean island species do best in the 80s.
Without more detailed info, its difficult to pinpoint where your problems arise.
